The RFgen Host Integration server contains a number of ERP specific connectors. Written using the standard tools and API’s provided by the vendors themselves, RFgen provides embedded access to your own ERP systems business rules. This direct access allows you to develop on-line as well as off-line data collection applications, in a fraction of the time required by other products.

Using three easy steps, any wireless, mobile, or batch application can communicate with your SAP or JD Edwards EnterpriseOne / World system and update it using its own internal logic. RFgen’s Host Integration server allows developers to download the business functions, and then to use point-and-click methods to generate all necessary code required to call these functions.

Best of all, RFgen’s method does not require anything to be installed on your host server. This means you will not need any new releases from DataMAX or software patches to be able to continue data collection after an ERP system upgrade.

At its simplest, RFgen will connect to any OLEDB/ODBC compliant database like DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, Access, and more. RFgen then manages the entire connection life-cycle, from initial startup to final shutdown, eliminating these low-level details from your application design considerations. Using this managed connection, RFgen allows developers to quickly access their enterprise data via SQL statements, Stored Procedures, as well as Oracle Packages.

RFgen also supports both a connection per client model, where each user will have their own unique handle to the database, as well as a pooled model. This connection pooling model will be described in more detail below, in short, connection pooling allows database handles to be shared among multiple users, providing maximum utilization of your licensing costs.

RFgen even includes the ability to easily synchronize data from these database connections to your mobile or batch devices, either through being physically docked, wirelessly through your RF network, or via a cellular service provider.

For customers using Legacy Host or Unix based systems, RFgen provides built-in 3270/5250/VT220 Screen Mapping capabilities to interact with these host systems. Using Screen Mapping, RFgen can record the data entry process for various transactions, automatically generate a script to duplicate the process, and allow users to develop wireless / mobile applications that are then linked to these scripts to update the data as if it were manually keyed into the system.

Using this approach, RFgen based applications can combine data from multiple host screens, add additional functionality without changing the host system, as well as allow users to operate even while the host is unavailable or off-line.

Unlike traditional Screen Mapping products, RFgen provides three levels of Screen Mapping.

RFgen supports a concept called “Connection Pooling”. This concept is used to deliver a maximum return on your ERP user licensing costs.

As you know, most wireless devices perform specific, targeted tasks. In many cases, it does not make sense to allocate a full ERP system license simply for data collection. RFgen takes this into account, and provides a mechanism by which data connections can be shared among many users.

It works by having the RFgen server own the data connection process. When a device needs access to a specific data connection, it will notify the server which will provide it the connection. If one is not available, the server will place the request in a queue and possibly start an additional connection to the data source.

This process works well because most transactions process in a few mili-seconds, therefore a single data connection can easily support a large number of users. This entire process is in use at many companies and works with all RFgen connection types.

RFgen uses a drag-and-drop approach to designing the data collection applications that will appear on your wireless and mobile devices. Once RFgen is configured to one or more data sources, it is easy to link an applications input / output fields to that source. Doing so allows RFgen to do all of the reading and writing to the data source behind the scenes and does not require the programmer to write any code. In the case of ERP connectors, the available business functions from the connected ERP system are reviewed by the programmer, and a select number are chosen for use. RFgen then has the ability to generate the VBA code required for that application to perform the selected business process. With this intuitive code generation feature the programmer does not need to focus on the mechanics, only the desired results.

Some of the ‘built-in’ design features include automatic table validation, scrolling lists, default values for input fields, validation edits for fields, error message properties, automatic SQL statements, and ActiveX routines. Using these features, many of our customers have experienced productivity enhancements in excess of 90% savings for development, testing, and post-installation support.

In another significant boost to development productivity, RFgen includes a fully functional version of Visual Basic for Applications. Using VBA, and RFgen’s built-in features, even junior programmers can easily create fairly complicated, data collection applications. To facilitate this development process, we have also enhanced the VBA environment to include a number of new VBA ‘language extensions’. These extensions relate specifically to the RF development environment and are targeted to simplify such tasks as complex data validation or queries, transaction updates, label printing, and much more.

In a nutshell, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) scripts allow technical personnel to provide additional functionality to RFgen data collection forms by responding to events using Visual Basic programming statements (scripts). VBA Scripts allow the developer to enhance the capabilities offered by standard RFgen forms and other objects. In fact, developers may take total control over the client device by responding to field/system events, handling all data display functions, and even sending direct commands through the various RFgen data connections.

Most customers recognize that there is a diverse employee population and an equally diverse set of hardware platforms available. To help address these issues, any RFgen application can simultaneously support multiple languages and multiple screen sizes. Whether the programmer uses a static table of IP address or dynamically queries user during login (among other methods), the specialized ‘display/language’ of that application can be presented.

One application can have any number of displays meaning that, for example, a picking transaction might display the field captions in an alternate language, or alternatively display its fields stretched to fit on a larger, vehicle mounted screen, while another might incorporate both. Since only the facade has changed, any underlying code will still function normally.

Another consideration is if the data collection devices will be of mixed manufacturers, operating systems, or purpose (wireless, batch, etc). RFgen easily connects with and works flawlessly with any VT220 capable telnet device. To accommodate the enhanced capabilities of newer, graphical devices, RFgen also offers a graphical client that will run on any Windows CE device regardless of version (PocketPC, CE.Net, etc.).

When deploying an application, RFgen will automatically distinguish the type of device being used and switch between a character display mode or a more advanced graphical display mode for each connected device. It is this functionality that allows for a more gradual device migration path, while protecting your investment in your existing data collection hardware.

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe helps you manage your projects, by saving them to a database. When you need to share files between two or more projects, you can share them quickly and efficiently. When you add a file to Visual SourceSafe, the file is backed up on the database, made available to other people, and changes that have been made to the file are saved so you can recover an old version at any time. Members of your team can see the latest version of any file, make changes, and save a new version in the database.

Visual SourceSafe project organization makes team coordination easy and intuitive. RFgen allows you the option to easily integrate your wireless projects into the Visual SourceSafe environment, delivering you industry standard capabilities for multi-developer collaboration, version control, and change documentation.

The RFgen development system was designed around the concept of an open, sharing of code since its inception. Because of this, all RFgen based transactions are by their very nature -- open. There is no built-in prohibition on the re-use and sharing of application code, nor is any of the application code hidden from the developer. Because, we firmly believe in empowering individuals and companies to take ownership of their data collection activities, DataMAX has further embraced the "Open Source" concept by releasing if formerly proprietary transactions for JD Edwards Enterprise One and World to the open source community.

With "Open Source" solutions, because the source code is publicly available, company's can quickly have the code tailored to meet their specific needs. Moreover, developers can re-use code written by others for similar tasks or purposes. This enables developers to concentrate on creating the features unique to their current task, instead of spending their effort on rethinking and re-writing code that has already been developed by others. Code re-use reduces development time and provides predictable results. Another benefit is that with access to the source code, the lifetime of open source systems and their upgrades can be extended indefinitely.

The RFgen "Open Source" approach to application development as well as its surrounding framework makes it a proven, comprehensive system that dramatically lowers the cost of implementing, customizing, and maintaining Data Collection solutions. With RFgen, you can take 100% ownership of the product with no hidden costs or recurring charges.

Simply click ‘Start Test’ and the emulator will run your completed application (in telnet, graphical, or batch mode). Alternatively, you can point a telnet-capable device (mobile or Windows desktop telnet session), or one loaded with the RFgen graphical / mobile client to the IP address of the development environment and the emulator will start automatically as well as on the mobile device. This allows the programmer to test the application on the mobile device but still use the debug window to step through any code or evaluate variable conditions.

To simulate actual load conditions, and to allow you to "prove" your applications before purchasing. The RFgen Communication Server supports a test mode that allows users to test up to 255 concurrent data collections devices all using various completed RFgen data collection applications.

And as if that isn't enough, all DataMAX products come with an ironclad, money-back guarantee that they will perform as documented.

RFgen offers users many choices when it comes to device connectivity. The ‘Thin Client’ model operates using a Citrix like version of the client / server model. Under this scenario, all actual processing occurs within the data collection server environment and the mobile device simply transmits scanned or keyed data as it is entered. The end devices run either a standard telnet program or RFgen’s graphical client.

This standard in thin client computing is often called RPP or Remote Power Projection. By using RPP, all RFgen designed applications perform all of their processing locally on the server, and pass only a minimum of information over the wireless network for a tremendous increase in performance and reliability. Deploying program changes without stopping data collection is another benefit with this model.

RFgen also supports a standard ‘Fat Client’ model for data collection environments. Using this model, the actual processing takes place on the device itself. All applications designed within RFgen are deployed to the device. If the mobile device is connected to the RFgen server via Ethernet, wireless, or other means, typically it will run in a ‘thin-client’ mode. When the mobile device is not in direct communication with the RFgen server, it will then switch to run in a ‘mobile’ or ‘batch’ mode.

‘Mobile’ mode has the ability to be both online and offline whereas ‘batch’ mode never has a thin client connection but rather sends its collected data directly to the RFgen server for processing. There is also a built-in capability to connect to the RFgen server and exchange data or remotely execute transactions from the batch / mobile device. Companies deploying this model are able to benefit from the best of both technologies.

Maintaining the integrity of your ERP data can become problematic once you allow data collection to occur in a disconnected state. To minimize these problems, we developed the RFgen Transaction Management Service. With it, data collection transactions can be placed into one or more queues for serialized processing. Scripts are then executed to further validate this data and post it into your ERP system. A log is kept which shows all transactions waiting for processing, those completed successfully and those that were rejected. any rejected transactions can then be analyzed for the problem, corrected and then reposted to your ERP system.

Another benefit derived from using RFgen's transaction management systems is that it provides users with a complete audit trail of all transactions entered into your system via the data collection interface. Additionally, this feature allows all system updates to take place in the background, thus speeding up your employees abilities to perform their specific tasks.

DataMAX is committed to our product, RFgen, and its users. We understand that while data collection is a small component of your business, if it fails it can have significant impacts throughout the enterprise. DataMAX is committed to providing the best software, service and support for all users of the RFgen product series. We have multiple specialists on staff that stand ready to assist you as needed. However, you should know that RFgen has proven itself to be a truly ‘self-supporting’ system. One of the key complements we hear from our customers over-and-over is ‘We never have trouble with RFgen, we just turn it on and it keeps running smoothly’.

RFgen also provides an RF network management utility, called RF Network Administrator making it easy manage your RF network. With the Network Administrator the system administrator can view all wireless users and devices connected, watch data collection in action or help a user along within the transaction using RFgen’s session mirroring. There are also utilities to send messages to individual or all users of connected devices. The Network Administrator also provides an easy interface to view any errors that have been logged, as well as all transactions that were marked for background, off-line processing.

RFgen contains its own Telnet and Sockets Daemons which automatically listen for incoming Telnet and Socket requests. Telnet requests are used to communicate with vt100/vt220 terminals, while sockets are used to communicate with alternate input devices like process control devices, batch updates, etc. This allows devices not requiring a front-end interface to still send and receive data from RFgen. These protocols have been optimized for the wireless environment with built-in support for out-of-range session management, recovering from pack-loss conditions, etc. In fact, using RFgen’s wireless TCPIP protocols, RFgen can provide 100% guaranteed packet delivery over your wireless network, LAN, or cellular provider.